Classic Chicago Magazine is a weekly digital publication celebrating the people, places, culture, and style that make Chicago one of the world’s great cities. Published every Sunday, each edition brings together original writing, photography, and reporting from voices who know and love this city.
We believe Chicago deserves a magazine that reflects its depth — its world-class dining, its storied neighborhoods, its vibrant arts scene, and the remarkable people who call it home. Classic Chicago tells the stories that matter to those who care deeply about this city, past and present.
From the best restaurants on Halsted Street to hidden gardens in Wicker Park, from galas on the Gold Coast to boba tea in Chinatown — our writers explore every corner of Chicago life. Regular features include dining guides, social coverage, neighborhood profiles, travel writing, and cultural commentary.
A veteran Chicago journalist covering dining, social events, and the people who shape the city’s cultural life. She is the author of Murray Bay: The Gilded Age Resort of Tafts, Sedgwicks, Blakes, Minturns, and Their Friends and co-author of Charlevoix: A Tradition of Hospitality.
Lincoln Park: History Hiding in Plain Sight
February 8, 2026
Alicia Ziegler: The Artful Concierge
February 15, 2026
Children's Research Fund Children's Ball
February 15, 2026
Bag Charms: Humor and Play in a Serious World
February 22, 2026
IWA's Women Extraordinaire
February 22, 2026
Chicago's Vanguard: Inside the 92nd Arts Club Members Show
March 1, 2026
Taffy and Pretty Girl Celebrate Anti-Cruelty's 127th Birthday
March 15, 2026
Even an 11th Hour Site Change Didn't Stop the ICA
March 15, 2026
Jessie Mueller: Evanston Tony Winner Sings For Season of Concern
March 22, 2026
Building Blocks: A Legacy to a Chicago Icon
March 22, 2026
Tiffany at the Driehaus Museum: Chicago Can’t Get Enough
March 29, 2026
Landmarks Illinois Delivers at The Old Post Office
March 29, 2026
Lyric Opera: Madama Butterfly and Virtual Reality
April 5, 2026
Concentration: A Poet’s Imagined Voice Now a Powerful Play
April 5, 2026
IWA Women Extraordinaire Awards Luncheon
April 5, 2026
Joyspan: How to Thrive in Life’s Second Half
April 12, 2026
Coming to the Alliance Française — Scent: The Invisible Art
April 12, 2026
Leaving Your Mark on the World: Astrid Greve-Spencer Teaches Leaders How to Do It
April 19, 2026
BandWith: A New Musical Home in East Garfield Park
April 19, 2026
Speakeasy Celebration: A Winning Gala for the Junior League
April 19, 2026
Brit Marling: A Film Force
April 26, 2026
Doris Kearns Goodwin Keynotes the Rush Spring Luncheon
April 26, 2026
Celebrating Twenty Years of Preservation Stewardship
April 26, 2026
The Promise of Liberty: Peoria’s Gift to the 250th Celebration
May 17, 2026
A Celebration of Liberty: The Guild of the Chicago History Museum
May 17, 2026
Murder at the Opera: The Chicago Opera Theater Asks Who Did It?
May 17, 2026
Twirl Around the Whirl: Brookfield Zoo Gala Raises $2 Million
May 24, 2026
Merit Gala: Showcasing Student Success
May 24, 2026
Graduation Dos and Don’ts: Lessons Learned for Parents and Grandparents
May 24, 2026
Simply Sensational: The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation Luncheon
June 7, 2026
Putting the Ritz in Biarritz: The Alliance Française de Chicago’s Biannual Gala
June 7, 2026
Robin Loewenberg Tebbe: Minds Matter
June 7, 2026
St. Thomas the Apostle Church: An Urban Garden and Community Oasis
June 7, 2026
A noted social historian, she is the author of The Magnificent Medills.
A veteran Chicago journalist covering dining, social events, and the people who shape the city’s cultural life. Judy studies silent films with a particular interest in learning about pioneering women filmmakers.
David A. F. Sweet is the author of Three Seconds in Munich: The Controversial 1972 Olympic Basketball Final, Lamar Hunt: The Gentle Giant Who Revolutionized Professional Sports, Onwentsia at 125, and Elawa Farm: A Timeless Treasure. Reach him at dafsweet@aol.com.
A senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an intern at Classic Chicago, Jackson takes interest in Chicago history, indie films and the music scene which have been explored in his fine articles.
Russell Kelley is a travel writer whose dispatches chronicle journeys through history, culture, and landscape.
Classic Chicago Magazine Short Story Editor Scott Holleran lived in Chicago for 21 years and writes the non-fictional Industrial Revolutions column as well as short stories. Listen to the author read his fiction — awarded a 2025 literary prize in Chicago’s Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards — at ShortStoriesByScottHolleran.substack.com.
David A. F. Sweet is the author of Three Seconds in Munich: The Controversial 1972 Olympic Basketball Final, Lamar Hunt: The Gentle Giant Who Revolutionized Professional Sports, Onwentsia at 125, and Elawa Farm: A Timeless Treasure. Reach him at dafsweet@aol.com.
Ice In Her Veins: Firefighter Dons Olympic Hockey Referee Uniform
February 8, 2026
Answering the Call: 45-Year-Old Lake Forest College Alum Suits Up as Blackhawks' Goalie
February 22, 2026
Philadelphia Story: The Nation's First Capital Has Much to Tell About Our Origins
March 15, 2026
The Joys and Challenges of Renovating the Classic Lake Forest High School Building
March 22, 2026
The Dice Keep Rolling at Trudie's Winnetka Backgammon Club
March 29, 2026
Pure Gold: Team USA Creates Own Medal Decades After 1972 Controversy
April 5, 2026
Ragdale Author Discusses Her Debut Novel That Became a Bestseller
April 5, 2026
Game-Changers: The Impact of a North Shore High School on the World of Sports
April 19, 2026
Ragdale Author: Christina Clancy Discusses Her Debut Novel That Became a Bestseller
April 26, 2026
Unsung Gems: Lake Forest Preservation Foundation
May 3, 2026
An Ancient Sport Aims to Court Players Where Mammoths Once Roamed
June 7, 2026
A senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an intern at Classic Chicago, Jackson takes interest in Chicago history, indie films and the music scene which have been explored in his fine articles.
Born in Rome and raised in Umbria, Francesco Bianchini teaches French language and culture at the University of Perugia and writes from between Italy and France. His work explores memory, place, food, travel, and the quiet rituals that shape a life.
Classic Chicago Magazine Short Story Editor Scott Holleran lived in Chicago for 21 years and writes the non-fictional Industrial Revolutions column as well as short stories. Read his first book, Long Run: Short Stories Volume One, and his non-fiction, Autonomia, at scottholleran.substack.com. Listen to the author read his fiction — awarded a 2025 literary prize in Chicago’s Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Awards — at ShortStoriesByScottHolleran.substack.com.
Under the banner of Facts and Froth, Jill Lowe writes about the quirky and the curious aspects of the ordinary and familiar parts of our every day life.
With a background in television, radio, and theater, Elizabeth Dunlop Richter explores issues, people, and places that she hopes sparks as much interest in her readers as they do in her.
Jen Huang is a student at the University of Illinois at Chicago interning at Classic Chicago Magazine. From childhood, she knew that she loves creating, whether that would be art or writing.
Biba Roesch who writes monthly about her favorite things, has been a Chicago favorite to so many. A leader in the concierge field and a member of cultural boards such as Facets, her knowledge of Chicago and Palm Springs people and places is legendary.
Monthly author of “My Silk Roads”, Susan Aurinko is a photographic artist and independent curator who also enjoys writing and reviewing. Enjoy her website at lensflairenditions.com.
Sigalit Zetouni is a Chicago-based arts and culture writer whose work explores the people, ideas, and creative forces shaping the city and the wider world.
Adrian Naves is a former Classic Chicago intern and a versatile writer and editor whose work spans culture, history, and Chicago life.
A graduate of Smith College, Sydney Armstrong loves covering cultural activities for Classic Chicago and is very active at St. Chrysostom’s Church. Past articles include a variety of experiences in Ukrainian Village.
Russell Kelley is a travel writer whose dispatches chronicle journeys through history, culture, and landscape.
Cheryl Anderson writes about art, culture, and the beauty found in everyday Chicago life.
Katherine Harvey is a travel writer whose work takes readers from Chicago to the far corners of Europe and beyond.
Lee Hamilton covers Chicago’s classical music scene with depth and authority.
Sophie Bross reviews theatre for Classic Chicago, bringing a keen eye to the city’s vibrant performing arts scene.
Soumiya Erragragui is an arts and culture writer covering theatre, film, and the creative forces shaping Chicago and the wider world.
Have a story idea, want to contribute, or just want to say hello? We'd love to hear from you. Reach us at editor@classicchicagomagazine.com.
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